Core Group

Generation Now Core Group

Meet the Generation Now Core Group, a diverse group of 40 members, at least half of whom are under the age of 30. The Core Group is instrumental in informing the direction of the Generation Now partnership and the development of the pre-conference meeting programmes. The members, selected for their expertise in HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), share their perspective on why the SRHR and HIV communities must come together NOW for adolescents and young women.

Core Group Youth Members

Adebisi AdenipekunLighthouse Global Health Initiative (LGHI), Nigeria

Vertical interventions have limited the extent of our impact towards achieving health and well-being of adolescents and young women. HIV cannot be separated from SRHR; hence, pragmatic interventions should be holistic and integrated. The time for SRHR and HIV communities to combine forces is now!

Anamaria SuciuYouAct, Belgium

As a young person and representative of a youth SRHR organization, I believe the strongest arguments for the SRHR and HIV communities to work together is the common challenges that we face, the intersectionality of the issues we are addressing and the potential of coming up with innovative solutions.

Anja Frydensberg PedersenSex & Samfund, Denmark

Because we are all in the same boat. In the end, we are all fighting for the right to live healthy and happy lives, free from stigma and discrimination. Unfortunately, we are nowhere near. It is a missed opportunity if we do not start working together right now, because if we do not, it will only take longer to reach our goal.

Annah SangoPACT & African Regional Young Positives, Zimbabwe

SRHR and HIV communities should come together NOW for adolescents and young women because we need a collective approach, and it is time to program with adolescents and young women than for them.

Aurelio Orta ResendizIAS Youth Ambassador, Mexico

Adolescents and young women have been voiceless for a long time; they cannot wait anymore. The ideas and talent of young advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers and policy makers in SRHR and HIV are there. By bringing together both communities, we are ensuring effective and comprehensive models of prevention and care.

Chinmay ModiYouth LEAD, Thailand

SRHR and HIV are both equally important for adolescents and young women and to the service provider as it improves the quality of life. The safe and healthy family planning is a right of every woman in the world and if both come together, the number of clients accessing services will increase.

Grace NgulubeWeCare/ Y-H360

These two must come together in order to help create a safe environment for adolescents and young women in the community and health facilities for then to access quality health services especially SRHR-HIV information, Treatment, care and support.

Jasmine GeorgeHidden Pockets, India

It is crucial for movements to come together at a time when SRHR movement is pushing towards criminalisation of some aspects of sexuality and HIV movement is opposing the criminalisation of communities. It is time, we come together and re-look at our strategies and build a stronger movement that does not leave anyone behind.

Kelvin MakuraY+, Zimbabwe

SRHR and HIV communities should could come together as this is aimed at designing better programs for adolescent and women, which are comprehensive, age appropriate and engaging. We are the leaders of change today, tomorrow and forever.

Lewis EmmertonCHOICE for Youth, Netherlands

Young people are at increased risk of sexual and reproductive ill health and HIV. Without meaningful youth engagement, many policies do not consider the rich diversity of young people and their varied lived realities. The SRHR and HIV communities have an important role to play in reaching out to the most vulnerable young people - by uniting both movements we can ensure that no young person is left behind!

Marinella MatejčićPaRiter, Croatia

It is necessary to rethink intersections within the SRHR and HIV movement. De-stigmatization and education are key to success. It is also essential to include both adolescents and young women, beyond tokenism, in advocacy and program design.

Nana AbuelsoudIkhtyar for Gender Studies and Research, Egypt

If we are aiming, as young and passionate advocates, for mental and physical wellbeing for ourselves, and all people, we have an indispensable opportunity to destigmatize sexuality and reproductive autonomy by integrating SRHR and HIV services and advocacy work. Neither HIV nor SRHR are standalone issues. They overlap and intersect.

Nomtika MjwanaSexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition; JUST CHOICE, South Africa

Oko Armah FrancisYoung Leaders for Change Foundation, Ghana

HIV and SRHR communities must come together because an integrating HIV and SRHR works for the good of women and girls towards a healthier, more empowered and equal world of possibilities.

Pascal Macharia IrunguHealth Options for Young Men on HIV/AIDS and STIs (HOYMAS), Kenya

Mature minors, regardless of their sexuality are in the exploratory age in their sexual lives. They are bound to put themselves at risk if they do not receive the right messaging regarding prevention options. Focussing on them ensures we create a “WOKE” next generation, aware of their SRHR and other health & human rights as well.

We should put integration at the forefront, joining SRHR interventions with existing community-based HIV programmes, connecting public and private SRHR and HIV service providers, and generating important evidence to add to the knowledge base on SRHR/HIV integration. Leveraging the strengths of marginalized youth, we can integrate HIV/SRHR programmes to ensure the services are non-judgmental, friendly and effective.

Sarah SoysaCommonwealth Gender Equality Network, FRIDA, Sri Lanka

Young women and girls are important stakeholders in the conversations around SRH and HIV and are most affected. Yet, their realities and needs are constantly overlooked. Gender-based violence and gender inequalities enhance their vulnerability and have detrimental effects on their lives. All stakeholders must be accountable and address, promote and protect SRHR for young women and girls, which are directly linked to HIV.

Shanine MushongaAfricaid Zvandiri, Zimbabwe

Adolescents and young women are particularly exposed to stigma and discrimination, whilst also carrying the burden of prejudice for being women and for being HIV+. This reduce their possibility of receiving equal treatment; if we focus on them, we can help to reduce and end the pandemic.

Shaun BeraYouth RISE, Zimbabwe

In order to end HIV by 2030 and provide a blueprint for adolescents and women to access reproductive and sexual health services it is more than essential for SRHR and HIV communities to be unified and work together as one.

Tikhala ItayeShe Decides/ AfriYAN, Malawi

Young people make up the majority of the population and it’s high time we take steps to invest in building the next generation to ensure that they survive and thrive; to give them a future where SHE can DECIDE who, when and what they want to do with their lives, Without question!

Core Group Members

Alejandra TrosseroUNICEF Latin America and Caribbean, Panama

We have failed adolescents. Our commitment to ensure adolescent girls and young women reach their full potential should go beyond the HIV and SRH communities, expanding to the health and education system, the private sector, academia, entrepreneurs and young people themselves. The future is now; we have no time to waste.

Aleksandar Sasha BordirozaUNFPA, Egypt

Alvaro BermejoIPPF, United Kingdom

Pam DasLancet, United Kingdom

Edward MariengaFamily Health Options Kenya, Kenya

Florence AnamInternational Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) Global, Kenya

The aspirations of achieving an HIV free generation and ending AIDS by 2030 can only be realized where community-centred stronger linkages between HIV and SRHR policy, programs and interventions exist to address the facilitators of sexual and reproductive ill health and HIV such as poverty, gender inequality, poor education and social marginalisation.

Francesca HeintzGlobal Health Strategies, United States

The largest generation of young people ever is entering its reproductive years. We have a great opportunity to fully realize this generation’s sexual and reproductive health and rights – including access to HIV prevention and treatment – but progress relies on young people being at the forefront, not an afterthought.

Helga FogstadPMNCH, Switzerland

The premise of leaving no one behind is powerful, and one that must guide us as we forge ahead to 2030. As a Partnership of 10 constituencies that include SRHR and HIV communities, bringing partners together is crucial for ensuring links across sectors, enabling us to reach women and girls everywhere, and ultimately ensuring equal access to health and rights for women and girls.

Julia BuntingPopulation Council, United States

Research has shown that when we invest in the health and well-being of adolescent girls and young women, there is a profound ripple effect benefitting their lives, their families, communities, and society. We owe it to them to come together as HIV and SRHR communities and ensure investment in integrated policies and programs. The pathway to a brighter future for adolescent girls is paved with rigorous evidence and informed decisions.

Katja IversenWomen Deliver, United States

One location to get tested for HIV, another for condoms, and a third for birth control pills? We are way overdue for the SRHR and HIV communities to come together. Denying holistic care kills millions, not least adolescents and young women - who have become the face of HIV.

Lene StavngaardSex & Samfund, IPPF, Denmark

Human rights are universal, but in reality, adolescents and young women do not get access to enjoy their rights. SRHR and the HIV communities share values and common ground. We need to share our knowledge -learn and earn together- to ensure a world when all people can enjoy the same rights.

Linda-Gail BekkerDesmond Tutu HIV Centre, South Africa

With almost 2000 young women becoming infected with HIV in South Africa alone, the opportunity to intervention while also taking care of their unmet SR needs is incredibly compelling.

Lynn CollinsUNFPA, United States

Manjulaa NarasimhanWHO, Switzerland

Attaining health and well-being without leaving anyone behind, and reaching the HIV and SRHR targets of SDGs 3 and 5, means prioritizing the needs of women and girls, especially the poorest and most marginalized among them; and increasing investment in and solidarity for women's rights movements.

Marta RoyoProfamilia, Colombia

It is imperative for the SRHR and HIV communities to come together if we really want to see an exponential change in terms of preventing HIV and providing AIDS care. It has been proven that when both services are integrated there is a significant positive impact, especially for women.

Miles KemplaySurvive and Thrive, CIFF, United Kingdom

Breaking down silos is essential if we are to accelerate progress. We must shift power to adolescents and young women, placing them at the centre of how comprehensive SRHR services are designed and delivered, joining the dots and creating interventions that are truly responsive to their needs